U.S. patent application number 15/427587 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-10 for internal friction control systems for hydrocarbonaceous subsiding bodies.
The applicant listed for this patent is Red Leaf Resources, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sean Hinchberger.
Application Number | 20170226426 15/427587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59497467 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170226426 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hinchberger; Sean |
August 10, 2017 |
INTERNAL FRICTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR HYDROCARBONACEOUS SUBSIDING
BODIES
Abstract
Systems for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can include a body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. A pipe can be oriented within the body
of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The placement of the pipe
can be such that the pipe is surrounded on top, bottom, and sides
by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can be made up of portions having
different void fractions. An arching control volume of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can extend upward from the pipe to a
vertical control distance. A support portion of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can be oriented immediately adjacent
sides of the arching control volume. The arching control volume can
have a higher void fraction than the support portion. Internal
friction between the arching control volume and the support portion
can reduce stresses on the pipe as the hydrocarbonaceous material
subsides.
Inventors: |
Hinchberger; Sean; (Salt
Lake City, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Red Leaf Resources, Inc. |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59497467 |
Appl. No.: |
15/427587 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62292720 |
Feb 8, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10G 1/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C10G 1/02 20060101
C10G001/02 |
Claims
1. A system for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, comprising: a body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material; and a pipe oriented within the body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material such that the pipe is surrounded
on top, bottom, and sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material; wherein the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
comprises an arching control volume of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material extending upward from the pipe to a vertical control
distance, and the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
further includes a support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material which is oriented immediately adjacent sides of the
arching control volume, wherein the arching control volume has a
higher void fraction than the support portion.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the arching control volume has a
monomodal particle size distribution and the support portion has a
multimodal particle size distribution.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the arching control volume has a
void fraction from about 30% to about 50% and the support portion
has a void fraction from about 20% to about 40%.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the void fraction of the arching
control volume is from about 5% to about 30% greater than the void
fraction of the support portion.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the arching control volume has a
higher kerogen content than the support portion.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical control distance is
from about 2 to about 6 times a diameter of the pipe.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the arching
control volume has an area from about 2 to about 6 times an area of
a cross section of the pipe when the cross sections are taken
perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pipe.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises a flexible
portion to allow the pipe to lower as crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material under the pipe subsides.
9. The system of claim 1, further including a second pipe oriented
directly above the first pipe and separated from the first pipe by
a vertical distance that is greater than the vertical control
distance, wherein the second pipe is surrounded on top, bottom, and
sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material and a second
arching control volume extends upward to the vertical control
distance from the second pipe.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pipes
connected to a pipe manifold, wherein each pipe is surrounded on
top, bottom, and sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
and a plurality of arching control volumes extend upward to the
vertical control distance from each pipe.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a surface of
undisturbed earth beneath the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material and the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material is
one-half to ten acres in top plan surface area.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a layer of
particulate material on top of the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the particulate material is a
different material from the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material.
13. A method of constructing a system for extracting hydrocarbons
from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous material, comprising: depositing a
layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material in an enclosure;
orienting a pipe on the layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material; and depositing additional crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material within the enclosure to form a structured body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material including an arching control volume of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material extending above the pipe with a
support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material oriented
immediately adjacent sides of the arching control volume, wherein
the arching control volume has a higher void fraction than the
support portion.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein depositing additional crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material comprises depositing crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material having a higher void fraction in the
arching control volume while depositing crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material having a lower void fraction in the support portion, until
a vertical control distance is reached; and then depositing an
upper layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material having a lower
void fraction over both the support portion and the arching control
volume.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising orienting a second
pipe on the upper layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material, and
then depositing additional crushed hydrocarbonaceous material over
the second pipe to form a second structured body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material including a second arching control
volume extending above the second pipe.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein depositing crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material is performed without compacting either
the arching control volume or the support portion.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the arching control volume has
a monomodal particle size distribution and the support portion has
a multimodal particle size distribution.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming the
enclosure from particulate materials.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the enclosure comprises
forming an insulating layer comprising particulate material
surrounding the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material and pipe, the
insulating layer having a smaller average particle size than the
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the enclosure further
comprises forming an impermeable layer comprising hydrated clay
encapsulating the insulating layer.
21. A method of reducing stress on a buried pipe during extraction
of hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous material,
comprising: heating a body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material,
wherein the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material surrounds a
pipe and the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material comprises
an arching control volume of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
extending upward from the pipe to a vertical control distance, and
the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material further includes a
support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material which is
oriented immediately adjacent sides of the arching control volume,
wherein the arching control volume has a higher void fraction than
the support portion; producing hydrocarbon products from the
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material such that the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material decreases in volume causing subsidence
of the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein frictional
forces between the arching control volume and the support portion
mitigate stress on the pipe due to subsidence; and extracting the
produced hydrocarbon products from the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the producing hydrocarbon
products comprises producing hydrocarbon products until the total
subsidence of the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material is from about
10% to about 40%.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the subsidence causes the pipe
to drop from about 1 m to about 15 m.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein top-down stress on pipe after
subsidence is less than top-down stress on the pipe before
subsidence.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein heating the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material and producing hydrocarbon products are
performed for a time from about 1 week to about 2 years.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/292,720, filed Feb. 8, 2016 which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to internal friction control
systems for subsiding bodies. Specifically, the present invention
relates to internal friction control systems for bodies of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, such as oil shale. Therefore, the
invention relates to the fields of subsidence and hydrocarbon
production from hydrocarbonaceous materials.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many processes have been developed for producing
hydrocarbons from various hydrocarbonaceous materials such as oil
shale and tar sands. Historically, the dominant research and
commercial processes include above-ground retorts and in-situ
processes. More recently, encapsulated impoundments have been
developed for recovering oil from crushed oil shale
(In-Capsule.RTM. technology). These impoundments are formed
primarily of earthen materials, with the crushed oil shale being
encapsulated by an impermeable barrier made of rock, soil, clay,
and geosynthetics, among other materials. The encapsulated
impoundments can be very large, sometimes occupying several
acres.
[0004] Generally, methods for recovering hydrocarbon products from
oil shale have involved applying heat to the oil shale. Heating oil
shale allows kerogen in the oil shale to break down through the
process of pyrolysis, yielding liquid and vapor hydrocarbon
compounds. Heating is also used to recover hydrocarbons from other
types of hydrocarbonaceous materials, such as tar sands, coal,
lignite, bitumen, peat, and other organic rich rock. Various
heating methods have been used. For example, in-situ combustion of
hydrocarbons, steam injection, hot combustion gas injection,
closed-loop heating conduits, radio frequency heaters, electric
heaters, and other heating systems have been used. Encapsulated
impoundments in particular have included closed-loop heating
conduits. An impoundment can include a body of crushed oil shale or
other hydrocarbonaceous material with heating conduits buried in
the crushed material. The heating conduits can be connected to a
source of heat exchange fluid, such as hot combustion gases. The
heat exchange fluid can flow through the conduits, transferring
heat through the conduits to the body of crushed material. Heating
the hydrocarbonaceous material in this way can produce hydrocarbon
liquids and vapors, which can then be recovered from the
impoundment.
SUMMARY
[0005] Internal friction control systems can be used in processes
for extracting hydrocarbons from subsiding hydrocarbonaceous
material, such as oil shale. Systems for extracting hydrocarbons
from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can include a body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. A pipe can be oriented within
the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The placement of
the pipe can be such that the pipe is surrounded on top, bottom,
and sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be made up of portions
having different void fractions. An arching control volume of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can extend upward from the pipe
to a vertical control distance. A support portion of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can be oriented immediately adjacent
sides of the arching control volume. The arching control volume can
have a higher void fraction than the support portion.
[0006] Methods of constructing systems for extracting hydrocarbons
from crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can include depositing a
layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material in an enclosure. A pipe
can be oriented on the layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material.
Additional crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be deposited
within the enclosure to form a structured body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. The body of structured
hydrocarbonaceous material can include an arching control volume of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material extending above the pipe. A
support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be
oriented immediately adjacent sides of the arching control volume.
The arching control volume can have a higher void fraction that the
support portion.
[0007] Methods of reducing stress on a buried pipe during
extraction of hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material can include heating a body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material. The body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can
surround a pipe. The body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can
include an arching control volume of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material extending upward from the pipe to a vertical control
distance. A support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
can be immediately adjacent sides of the arching control volume.
The arching control volume can have a higher void fraction than the
support portion. Hydrocarbon products can be produced from the
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. During this process, the
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can decrease in volume, causing
subsidence of the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. Frictional
forces between the arching control volume and the support portion
can mitigate stress on the pipe due to subsidence. The produced
hydrocarbon products can be extracted from the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-section illustrations of a system
for extracting hydrocarbons from crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-section illustration of a pipe
and an arching control volume in accordance with an embodiment of
the present technology;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a pipe
and an arching control volume in accordance with an embodiment of
the present technology;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a pipe
and an arching control volume in accordance with an embodiment of
the present technology;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a pipe
and an arching control volume in accordance with an embodiment of
the present technology;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view illustration of a lateral conduit and
compactible vertical riser in accordance with an embodiment of the
present technology;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side view illustration of a lateral conduit and
compactible vertical riser in accordance with an embodiment of the
present technology;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pipe system in accordance
with an embodiment of the present technology;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pipe system in accordance
with an embodiment of the present technology;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pipe system in accordance
with an embodiment of the present technology;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pipe system in accordance
with an embodiment of the present technology;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method of constructing a system
for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material in accordance with an embodiment of the present
technology; and
[0020] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method of reducing stress on a
buried pipe during extraction of hydrocarbons from a crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material in accordance with an embodiment of the
present technology.
[0021] These drawings are provided to illustrate various aspects of
the invention and are not intended to be limiting of the scope in
terms of dimensions, materials, configurations, arrangements or
proportions unless otherwise limited by the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] While these exemplary embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may
be realized and that various changes to the invention may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Thus, the following more detailed description of the
embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the
scope of the invention, as claimed, but is presented for purposes
of illustration only and not limitation to describe the features
and characteristics of the present invention, to set forth the best
mode of operation of the invention, and to sufficiently enable one
skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the
scope of the present invention is to be defined solely by the
appended claims.
Definitions
[0023] In describing and claiming the present invention, the
following terminology will be used.
[0024] As used herein, "hydrocarbonaceous material" refers to any
hydrocarbon-containing material from which hydrocarbon products can
be extracted or derived. For example, hydrocarbons may be extracted
directly as a liquid, removed via solvent extraction, directly
vaporized, by conversion from a feedstock material, or otherwise
removed from the material. Many hydrocarbonaceous materials contain
kerogen or bitumen which is converted to a flowable or recoverable
hydrocarbon through heating and pyrolysis. Hydrocarbonaceous
materials can include, but are not limited to, oil shale, tar
sands, coal, lignite, bitumen, peat, and other organic rich rock.
Thus, existing hydrocarbon-containing materials can be upgraded
and/or released from such feedstock through a chemical conversion
into more useful hydrocarbon products.
[0025] As used herein, "spent hydrocarbonaceous material" and
"spent oil shale" refer to materials that have already been used to
produce hydrocarbons. Typically after producing hydrocarbons from a
hydrocarbonaceous material, the remaining material is mostly
mineral with the organic content largely removed.
[0026] As used herein, "lean hydrocarbonaceous material" and "lean
oil shale" refer to materials that have a relatively low
hydrocarbon content. As an example, lean oil shale can typically
have from 1% to 8% hydrocarbon content by weight.
[0027] As used herein, "rich hydrocarbonaceous material" and "rich
oil shale" refer to materials that have a relatively high
hydrocarbon content. As an example, rich oil shale can typically
have from 12% to 25% hydrocarbon content by weight, and some cases
higher.
[0028] As used herein, "compacted earthen material" refers to
particulate materials such as soil, sand, gravel, crushed rock,
clay, spent shale, mixtures of these materials, and similar
materials. A compacted earthen material suitable for use in the
present invention typically has a particle size of less than about
10 cm in diameter.
[0029] As used herein, whenever any property is referred to that
can have a distribution between differing values, such as a
temperature distribution, particle size distribution, etc., the
property being referred to represents an average of the
distribution unless otherwise specified. Therefore, "particle size
of the insulating material" refers to an average particle size, and
"temperature of the body of heated material" refers to an average
temperature of the body of heated material.
[0030] It is noted that, as used in this specification and in the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to "a layer" includes one or more of
such features, reference to "a particle" includes reference to one
or more of such elements, and reference to "producing" includes
reference to one or more of such steps.
[0031] As used herein, the terms "about" and "approximately" are
used to provide flexibility, such as to indicate, for example, that
a given value in a numerical range endpoint may be "a little above"
or "a little below" the endpoint. The degree of flexibility for a
particular variable can be readily determined by one skilled in the
art based on the context.
[0032] As used herein, the term "substantially" refers to the
complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action,
characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. The
exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may
in some cases depend on the specific context. However, the nearness
of completion will generally be so as to have the same overall
result as if absolute and total completion were obtained.
"Substantially" refers to a degree of deviation that is
sufficiently small so as to not measurably detract from the
identified property or circumstance. The exact degree of deviation
allowable may in some cases depend on the specific context. The use
of "substantially" is equally applicable when used in a negative
connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an
action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or
result.
[0033] As used herein, "adjacent" refers to the proximity of two
structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified
as being "adjacent" may be either abutting or connected. Such
elements may also be near or close to each other without
necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity
may in some cases depend on the specific context. For example, when
stating that elements are "immediately adjacent" these elements are
in physical contact with one another. Additionally, adjacent
structures or elements can in some cases be separated by additional
structures or elements between the adjacent structures or
elements.
[0034] As used herein, "void fraction" refers to the fraction of
total volume of a body of particulate material that is void space.
The void space includes space between particles that can be
occupied by gases or liquids. Void fraction can be expressed as a
percentage between 0% and 100% or as a number between 0 and 1.
[0035] As used herein, "subsidence" and "subside" refer to downward
movement of particles in a body of particulate material. In the
context of the present technology, subsidence is caused by
extraction of a substance, such as hydrocarbons, from the
particulate material. This subsidence is typically much greater
than the settling that normally occurs in a body of particulate
material when nothing is being extracted from the material.
Subsidence can be expressed as a percentage, which unless stated
otherwise refers to a percentage in decreased volume of the body of
particulate material. Subsidence can also be expressed as
percentage of or absolute distance by which the particulate
material drops from its original position.
[0036] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements,
compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a
common list for convenience. However, these lists should be
construed as though each member of the list is individually
identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual
member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of
any other member of the same list solely based on their
presentation in a common group without indications to the
contrary.
[0037] Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be
presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that
such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and
should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical
values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to
include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges
encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and
sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a numerical range of
about 1 to about 4.5 should be interpreted to include not only the
explicitly recited limits of 1 to about 4.5, but also to include
individual numerals such as 2, 3, 4, and sub-ranges such as 1 to 3,
2 to 4, etc. The same principle applies to ranges reciting only one
numerical value, such as "less than about 4.5," which should be
interpreted to include all of the above-recited values and ranges.
Further, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the
breadth of the range or the characteristic being described.
[0038] Any steps recited in any method or process claims may be
executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in
the claims. Means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations
will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of
the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) "means
for" or "step for" is expressly recited; and b) a corresponding
function is expressly recited. The structure, material or acts that
support the means-plus function are expressly recited in the
description herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should
be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given
herein.
[0039] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments
illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe
the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of
the scope of the technology is thereby intended. Additional
features and advantages of the technology will be apparent from the
detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of
example, features of the technology.
[0040] With the general examples set forth in the Summary above, it
is noted in the present disclosure that when describing the system,
or the related devices or methods, individual or separate
descriptions are considered applicable to one other, whether or not
explicitly discussed in the context of a particular example or
embodiment. For example, in discussing a device per se, other
device, system, and/or method embodiments are also included in such
discussions, and vice versa.
[0041] Furthermore, various modifications and combinations can be
derived from the present disclosure and illustrations, and as such,
the following figures should not be considered limiting.
Internal Friction Control Systems for Hydrocarbonaceous Subsiding
Bodies
[0042] One type of system for extracting hydrocarbons from
hydrocarbonaceous material involves filling an impoundment with
particulate hydrocarbonaceous material, such as crushed oil shale.
Pipes are buried within the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material. These pipes can be, for example, heating conduits, liquid
collection conduits, vapor collection conduits, fluid injection
conduits, access conduits, instrument conduits, and so on. After
forming the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material with pipes
buried therein, the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material is heated
for an extended period of time to produce liquid and vapor
hydrocarbons from the material. The produced hydrocarbons can then
be extracted from the impoundment for use or further
processing.
[0043] Crushed hydrocarbonaceous materials tend to subside as
hydrocarbons are extracted from the materials. Without being bound
to a particular theory, it is believed that the hydrocarbonaceous
material subsides due to a combination of a decrease in volume of
the crushed particles when hydrocarbons are removed therefrom and
embrittlement of the particles as hydrocarbons are removed, which
causes the particles to be crushed (i.e. resulting in size
reduction) and compacted by the weight of overburdening material.
The amount of subsidence can vary depending on the hydrocarbon
content of the hydrocarbonaceous material and the void fraction of
the body of hydrocarbonaceous material, among other factors. Oil
shale in particular has been found to subside by 10-40% or more,
depending on the particular quality of feedstock. This is in
addition to normal gravitational settling of the particles that may
occur as the particles are dumped into the impoundment, just as
occurs with any particulate material such as sand or soil.
[0044] The high degree of subsidence encountered during hydrocarbon
recovery can place large stresses on the pipes buried within the
body of hydrocarbonaceous material. As the particles of
hydrocarbonaceous material subside, an increasing weight is exerted
on the pipes from the particles above the pipes. At the same time,
the particles below the pipes subside and reduce the amount of
support on the pipes from below.
[0045] In addition to these stresses, the weight pressing down on a
pipe from above can actually be greater than the weight of the
particulate material directly above the pipe. This is due to a
property of particulate materials known as "arching." Arching has
been dealt with in the context of soil arching, which occurs when a
shear force is placed on soil. Soil arching is related to internal
friction, or friction between particles in soil. Friction between
particles can cause some particles to support a portion of the
weight of adjacent particles. As a conceptual example to illustrate
the soil arching phenomenon, a flat plate can be buried beneath a
deep layer of sand. If one section from the center of the flat
plate suddenly lowers, the sand immediately above the lowered
section will also drop down with the lowered section. However,
internal friction in the sand will cause the sand particles
directly above the non-lowered sections of the flat plate to
support part of the weight of the sand particles over the lowered
section. Therefore, at progressively higher locations in the sand,
the sand particles over the lowered section will tend more and more
to stay in place as their weight is supported by adjacent
particles. Eventually, a height above the flat plate will be
reached at which none of the sand particles are disturbed by the
lowering of the lowered section. This point can be referred to as a
"plane of equal settlement," because above this plane no portion of
the sand settles any more than the other portions. The regions
where sand particles are supported by internal friction tend to
form an arched shape, like a bridge, above the lowered section of
the flat plate. Thus, this phenomenon is referred to as "arching"
or "bridging."
[0046] Bridging involves sand supporting itself through internal
friction when a void forms under the sand, such as by the lowered
section of the flat plate in the example above. However, the same
phenomenon can also cause soil to exert a greater than expected
force on buried pipes. As an example, rigid pipes are sometimes
placed on the surface of the existing ground and then covered with
a layer of soil. Building an embankment over a buried conduit is
one situation in which this might be done. When the pipe is covered
with loose soil, the soil tends to settle under gravitational
forces. The soil to each side of the buried pipe can settle all the
way down to the original surface of the existing ground. However,
the soil directly above the pipe is prevented from settling as far
because the rigid pipe holds the soil up. The internal friction of
the soil causes the column of soil directly above the pipe to
support a portion of the weight of adjacent columns of soil. As a
result, the pipe is subjected to an effective weight of the soil
directly above the pipe and a portion of the weight of the adjacent
soil. This can be referred to as "negative arching."
[0047] In the case of pipes buried in a body of subsiding
hydrocarbonaceous material, the effective weight on the pipes can
be substantially greater than typical soil or sand environments. As
hydrocarbons are removed, the hydrocarbonaceous material can
subside much more than sand or soil would through gravity-driven
settling alone. Negative arching causes a large portion of the
weight of adjacent particles to be supported by the column of
particles directly above the pipes. If the force on the pipes is
great enough, the pipes can rupture. In the case of product
recovery conduits, rupture can lead to loss of valuable products.
In the case of heating conduits, rupture can lead to inefficient
heating and potential contamination of the hydrocarbon
products.
[0048] The presently disclosed technology involves methods for
reducing the force on pipes buried in a subsiding body of
particulate hydrocarbonaceous material from which hydrocarbons are
produced. The force can be reduced by designing the body of
hydrocarbonaceous material so that portions of the
hydrocarbonaceous material that are subject to a greater degree of
subsidence are placed directly over the pipes. Portions of
hydrocarbonaceous material can be subject to different amounts of
subsidence. For example, oil shale with a higher kerogen content
can subside more than oil shale with a lower kerogen content. Thus,
the amount of hydrocarbons present in the hydrocarbonaceous
material can affect the degree of subsidence. Additionally,
particulate hydrocarbonaceous material with a higher void fraction
can have a higher degree of subsidence than material with a lower
void fraction. By considering such factors (e.g. kerogen content,
richness, void space, etc), a column of hydrocarbonaceous material
that has a higher degree of subsidence can be placed directly over
a pipe, while the adjacent material has a lower degree of
subsidence. As hydrocarbons are produced, the column of material
above the pipe tends to subside more than the adjacent material.
Internal friction between the column of material above the pipe and
the adjacent material induces positive arching in the material.
That is, the adjacent material tends to support a portion of the
weight of the column of material over the pipe. In this way, the
load on the pipe is reduced.
[0049] With this background in mind, FIG. 1 illustrates a system
100 for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material. The system includes a body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material 105 and pipes 110 oriented within the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. The pipes can be surrounded on top,
bottom, and sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. An
arching control volume 115 extends upward from each pipe. The
arching control volumes are portions of the body of
hydrocarbonaceous material that have a higher void fraction. The
arching control volumes extend upward from the pipes to a vertical
control distance. Portions of the hydrocarbonaceous material
immediately adjacent on the sides of the arching control volume act
as support portions. The particulate material in the support
portions has a lower void fraction than the arching control volume.
When the hydrocarbonaceous materials subside due to removal of
hydrocarbons, the support portions support part of the weight of
the arching control volume. This reduces the load on the pipes.
[0050] FIG. 1A also shows additional components of the system 100
present in this specific embodiment. The body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material 105 is surrounded by an insulating layer
120. A barrier layer 125 surrounds the insulating layer. The
barrier layer, insulation layer, and body of hydrocarbonaceous
material can together be referred to as an impoundment, because the
barrier layer prevents materials such as hydrocarbon liquids and
vapors from escaping. A variety of materials can be used in forming
the impoundment. For example, the insulating barrier can be formed
of a clay amended soil. Reference for additional details for
operating and building an encapsulated system can be made to U.S.
Pat. No. 7,862,705, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2013/0334106-A1, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/062,713,
filed Oct. 10, 2014, which are each incorporated herein by
reference. Side berms 130 support the sides of the impoundment.
Finally, a layer of cover fill 135 is deposited on the top of the
impoundment.
[0051] FIG. 1B shows the same system 100 after the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous materials have subsided. The depth of the body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material 105 has decreased compared to
FIG. 1A. The sloped parts of the ceiling of the impoundment have
flattened somewhat as the hydrocarbonaceous material subsided. In
the particular embodiment shown, the pipes 110 are designed to be
moveable in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, the pipes
have moved with the subsiding hydrocarbonaceous material so that
the rows of pipes are closer together than in FIG. 1A. Such
moveable pipes can be designed using flexible pipe sections or
collapsible pipe manifolds, as described in more detail below.
[0052] The various components of the system shown in FIGS. 1A and
1B are not necessarily always included in all embodiments of the
present technology. Generally, systems for extracting hydrocarbons
from crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can include a body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. Examples of hydrocarbonaceous
material include, but are not limited to, oil shale, tar sands,
lignite, bitumen, coal, peat, harvested biomass, and any other
hydrocarbon-rich material. Many of these materials are
characterized by the ability to produce liquid and gaseous
hydrocarbons by heating the materials to elevated temperatures. For
example, oil shale can be heated to temperatures sufficient to
pyrolize kerogen in the oil shale, which breaks down the kerogen
into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons with lower molecular weights.
The operating temperature for producing hydrocarbons can be
selected depending on the type of hydrocarbonaceous material, the
desired molecular weight of hydrocarbon products, the desired phase
(liquid or vapor) of hydrocarbon products, and the desired rate of
production of hydrocarbon products. For example, lower temperatures
can be applied for longer periods of time, or higher temperatures
can be applied for shorter periods of time. In some embodiments,
the temperature of hydrocarbon production can be from about
95.degree. C. to about 550.degree. C., and in other aspects from
330.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.
[0053] In certain embodiments, the system can include an insulating
layer surrounding the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material.
The insulating layer can comprise a variety of insulating
materials. Generally, the insulating layer can retain the heat in
the heated body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material so that the
outer layers of the impoundment and the environment outside the
impoundment are not damaged by high temperatures. Examples of
insulating materials include, but are not limited to, gravel, sand,
spent oil shale, open-cell foam, fiberglass, mineral wool, and so
on. In one embodiment, the insulating material can be crushed spent
oil shale. Other optional insulation materials can include
biodegradable insulating materials, e.g. soy insulation and the
like. This is consistent with embodiments wherein the impoundment
is a single use system such that insulations and other components
can have a relatively low useful life, e.g. less than 1-2 years.
This can also reduce equipment costs as well as reduce long-term
environmental impact.
[0054] The insulating material can be porous. In some cases, the
insulating material can be a particulate material that is loosely
formed into an insulating layer so that spaces remain between the
particles. In such embodiments, the porosity of the material can be
provided by the spaces between the particles although the particles
themselves may not be particularly porous. In other cases,
individual particles of insulating material can contain microscopic
or visible pores so that the particles themselves are porous. In
such embodiments, the porosity of the material can be provided both
by the spaces between the particles and by the pores contained in
the particles. In one example, the insulating material can be spent
oil shale. Particles of spent oil shale can contain many small
pores where kerogen has been converted into smaller hydrocarbons
and removed. In some embodiments, the particles of insulating
material can have a porosity from about 0.1 to about 0.5. In other
embodiments, the porosity can be from about 0.15 to about 0.3. In
further embodiments, the insulating layer can have a void space,
referring to space between particles, from about 20% to about 50%.
In still further embodiments, the void space can be from about 25%
to about 40%.
[0055] In some embodiments, the insulating material can be a
particulate earthen material. For example, the insulating material
can be crushed spent oil shale, crushed lean oil shale, or other
crushed rock. In one example, the insulating material can be a
particulate earthen material having a particle size from about 1 mm
to about 5 cm. In another example, the particle size can be from
about 1 mm to about 2 cm. In a specific embodiment, the insulating
material can be crushed spent or lean oil shale with an average
particle size of about 1 mm to about 2 cm.
[0056] In hydrocarbon production processes, insulating material can
be obtained from materials produced as part of the process. For
example, hydrocarbonaceous materials can be mined to use as a
feedstock for hydrocarbon production. After producing hydrocarbons
from the hydrocarbonaceous material, the spent hydrocarbonaceous
material can be crushed and used as insulating material in another
impoundment. Additionally, other rock that may be mined along with
the hydrocarbonaceous material can be used as the insulating
material, or lean hydrocarbonaceous material that would not be
profitable to use as feedstock can be used as insulating
material.
[0057] The system can further include a barrier layer surrounding
the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The barrier layer
can be outside the insulating layer, if present. Generally, the
barrier layer can include materials that block escape of
hydrocarbon fluids from the impoundment. The barrier layer can also
block entrance of air or water from outside the impoundment.
Non-limiting examples of suitable barrier layer materials for use
in forming the impoundment can include clay, bentonite clay (e.g.
clay comprising at least a portion of bentonite which includes
montmorillonite), compacted fill, refractory cement, cement, grout,
high temperature asphalt, sheet steel, sheet aluminum, synthetic
geogrids, fiberglass, rebar, hydrocarbon additives, filled
geotextile bags, polymeric resins, PVC liners, or combinations
thereof. For large scale operations forming the impoundment at
least partially of earthen material can provide an effective
barrier.
[0058] In certain embodiments, the barrier layer can comprise a
swelling clay. Examples of swelling clay include, but are not
limited to, bentonite clay, montmorillonite, kaolinite, illite,
chlorite, vermiculite, etc. Most often, the barrier layer can
include soil amended with a swelling clay. For example, the barrier
layer material can be bentonite amended soil. Bentonite amended
soil can be hydrated by adding water, which causes the particles of
bentonite to swell. The hydrated bentonite particles and the other
particles present in the soil form an impermeable matrix that is an
effective barrier to vapors and liquids. In some cases, bentonite
amended soil can comprise, by weight, about 5-20% bentonite clay;
15-20% water; and the remainder soil or aggregate. When hydrated,
the bentonite component swells to several times the dry volume of
the bentonite clay thus sealing the soil such that this material is
plastic and malleable.
[0059] The barrier layer can form an impoundment to restrict
passage of fluids into or out of the impoundment. As such,
hydrocarbon fluids produced from hydrocarbonaceous material inside
the impoundment can be retained inside the impoundment to avoid
contamination of the environment outside the impoundment and loss
of valuable hydrocarbon products. Thus, the barrier layer can be
free of a continuous vapor phase and can be formed of packed solid
particulate material within a continuous liquid phase. In some
embodiments, the impoundment can prevent substantially all passage
of hydrocarbons outside the impoundment except through designated
conduits such as gas and liquid hydrocarbon outlet conduits. Such
outlet conduits can include one or more drains in a lower portion
of the impoundment which allow draining liquid hydrocarbons, one or
more gas outlets in an upper portion of the impoundment for
withdrawing gases and vapors, one or more intermediate outlets
located at intermediate heights within the body of heated material
for withdrawing hydrocarbon liquids and gases with various boiling
points, or combinations of these different outlets. Outlet conduits
can penetrate through the impermeable barrier layer to allow
hydrocarbon products to be collected from the impoundment. The area
of the barrier layer immediately surrounding the conduits can be
sealed against the exterior surfaces of the conduits so that no
leakage of hydrocarbons occurs at the interface between the
conduits and the barrier layer.
[0060] Additionally, the impoundment can restrict passage of air,
water, or other fluids into the impoundment from the surrounding
environment. Leakage of air into the impoundment can potentially
cause problems with the process of recovering hydrocarbons from
hydrocarbonaceous materials. For example, the presence of oxygen
can result in polymerization and agglomeration of the hydrocarbons
and other contents within the impoundment. Further, the presence of
oxygen can induce undesirable combustion within the system. In some
embodiments, the impoundment can prevent substantially all passage
of fluids into the impoundment from the surrounding environment.
Optionally, fluids can be fed into the impoundment through
designated inlet conduits. In some cases inlet conduits can be used
to introduce heated gases into the impoundment to heat the body of
hydrocarbonaceous material. In one such example, heating conduits
can be used to introduce hot combustion gas into the impoundment.
Other fluids that can be introduced into the impoundment through
inlet conduits include, but are not limited to, steam, inert or
non-oxidizing gases, solvents, hydrocarbons, catalysts, and so on.
Accordingly, the impoundment can prevent passage of fluids in
either direction, either into or out of the impoundment, with the
exception of designated inlet and outlet conduits.
[0061] Although the barrier layer can be formed of a variety of
materials, in one aspect, the barrier layer can be formed of a
particulate material with an average diameter of 0.1 cm to about 5
cm, and most often from about 0.2 cm to about 1 cm. Similarly, the
particulate material can have a range of sizes from about 74
micrometers (200 mesh) to about 10 cm (3/8''). The barrier layer
can have a thickness sufficient to prevent leakage of fluids into
or out of the impoundment. In one example, the barrier layer can
have a thickness from about 10 cm to about 2 m. In another example,
the barrier layer can have a thickness from about 50 cm to about 1
m.
[0062] Walls of the impoundment can additionally include external
support material. In some embodiments, the barrier layer can be
supported by an outer wall formed from earthen material. The outer
walls can include tailings berms, compacted earth, undisturbed
geological formation, gabions, geosynthetic fabric, and other
supporting material. In one embodiment, the impoundment can be
formed as a free standing structure, i.e. using existing grade as a
floor with side walls being man-made. In the example shown in FIGS.
1A and 1B, the walls are supported by side berms 130. The side
berms can be built up of crushed rock or dirt. Alternatively, the
impoundment can be formed within an excavated pit by forming the
barrier layer against undisturbed formation surfaces of the
excavated pit.
[0063] The impoundment can be constructed on top of a surface of
undisturbed earth. The undisturbed surface can provide support to
the floor of the impoundment. Another layer of earth can be
deposited on top of the impoundment. This layer can be loose fill
dirt or any other suitable material.
[0064] Although the impoundment can have any suitable size, the
present technology is especially useful for large scale systems for
extracting hydrocarbons. Larger impoundments or systems with
multiple impoundments can readily produce hydrocarbon products and
performance comparable to or exceeding smaller impoundments. As an
illustration, single impoundments can range in size from 15 meters
across to 200 meters across, and often from about 100 to 160 meters
across. Optimal impoundment sizes may vary depending on the
hydrocarbonaceous material and operating parameters, however
suitable impoundment areas can often range from about one-half to
ten acres in top plan surface area. Additionally, the impoundment
can have a depth from about 10 m to about 50 m.
[0065] The impoundment can be used to heat the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material for a relatively long amount of time.
For example, in some examples the heating time can be from about 2
days to about 2 years, such as from about 3 days to about 2 years
or from about 1 week to about 2 years. In other examples, the
heating time can be from about 3 months to about 8 months. In
embodiments involving production of hydrocarbons from
hydrocarbonaceous material, the heating time can be sufficient to
recover most of the hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbonaceous
material. In one example, the heating time can be sufficient to
recover at least 99% of the convertible hydrocarbons from the
hydrocarbonaceous material. Long heating times used in conjunction
with moderate temperatures can in some cases produce better quality
hydrocarbon products than shorter heating times with higher
temperatures.
[0066] Regardless of the size and design of the impoundment, the
present technology can be used to reduce stress on the pipes buried
in the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. FIG. 2 shows a
close-up view of a single pipe 110 and an arching control volume
115 designated by the area inside the dashed line. The area outside
the dashed line is designated as the support portion of the body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The arching control volume
contains crushed hydrocarbonaceous material having a higher void
fraction than the material in the support portion. In this
particular case, the material inside the arching control volume has
a monomodal size distribution. As shown in the figure, the material
is made up of larger particles 245 that are roughly uniform in
size. In practice, the size of the particles can vary within a size
distribution. A monomodal size distribution is a distribution with
a single mode, or in other words, a single most common size of the
particles. Most of the particles have sizes near this mode. In
contrast, the figure shows that the support portion has a bimodal
size distribution, made up of larger particles and smaller
particles 250 mixed together. The bimodal size distribution has two
local modes, one large and one small. The smaller particles tend to
fill spaces between the larger particles that would otherwise be
void spaces in a monomodal distribution. Thus, the overall void
fraction of the support portion is lower than the void fraction of
the arching control volume.
[0067] Although monomodal and bimodal size distributions are used
in the example shown in FIG. 2, the other size distributions can
also be used. For example, the arching control volume and the
support portion can both have multimodal size distributions and the
support portion can have more modes in its size distribution than
the arching control volume. The arching control volume can have a
bimodal size distribution while the support portion has a trimodal
size distribution, and so on. In another example, the arching
control volume can have a monomodal size distribution while the
support portion has a trimodal or higher multimodal size
distribution. By increasing the number of particle sizes from
monomodal to bimodal or trimodal, the void fraction can in some
cases be reduced from 50% to about 20%. Other factors besides size
distribution can also be used to affect the void space of the
arching control volume and the support portion. For example, the
particles in the support portion can be shaped to pack more tightly
while the particles in the arching control can be shaped to pack
more loosely. Alternatively, the particles in the support portion
can be compacted while the particles in the arching control volume
are not compacted.
[0068] In some embodiments, the arching control volume can have a
void fraction from about 30% to about 50%. The support portion can
have a void fraction from about 20% to about 40%. In some cases,
the void fraction of the arching control volume can be from about
5% to about 30% greater than the void fraction of the support
portion.
[0069] The arching control volume 240 extends upward from the pipe
110 to a vertical control distance 255. The vertical control
distance can be selected based on the desired reduction in stress
on the pipe and the ability of the arching control volume and
support portion to reduce the stress. In some cases, the vertical
control distance can be at or above the plane of equal settlement.
In such cases, the particles above the plane of equal settlement
behave as if the entire body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
has a homogeneous degree of subsidence, as if there is no pipe or
arching control volume below. In other cases, the vertical control
distance can be below the plane of equal settlement. In other
cases, the vertical control distance can extend vertically to a top
edge of the body crushed hydrocarbonaceous material.
[0070] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the arching control volume
115 with arrows representing forces in various locations of the
body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The individual
particles of hydrocarbonaceous material are omitted for clarity.
The longest arrows 320 in the support portion represent the weight
of the hydrocarbonaceous material in the support portion pushing
down on the material below. The upward-pointing arrows 325 at the
edges of the arching control volume represent an upward force that
is exerted, through friction, by the support portion on the arching
control volume. This force results from the fact that the support
portion subsides less than the arching control volume. Therefore,
the particles in the support portion are able to support a portion
of the weight of the particles in the arching control volume. The
arrow 330 pointing downward at the pipe 110 represents the
resulting force pushing down on the pipe. This force is reduced by
the upward force exerted by the support portion on the arching
control volume.
[0071] In some cases, subsidence of the hydrocarbonaceous materials
during hydrocarbon production can result in an overall decrease in
the downward force on the pipe. However, the system can also be
designed so that the force remains the same or increases somewhat
during hydrocarbon production. Several factors can affect the force
on the pipe. The difference in degree of subsidence between the
arching control volume and the support portion is a major influence
on the force. The larger the difference, the more the force on the
pipe will be reduced. Therefore, in one embodiment, the difference
in degree of subsidence can be maximized to minimize the force on
the pipe. This can be accomplished by maximizing a difference in
void fraction between the arching control volume and the support
portion, for example. However, using a higher void fraction in the
arching control volume involves a trade-off in that the higher void
fraction material contains less hydrocarbonaceous material and
therefore less hydrocarbon product can be extracted. Additionally,
reducing the void fraction of the support portion below a certain
value, such as 15-20%, can adversely affect production of
hydrocarbons from the system because hot gases are not able to
circulate through the body of hydrocarbonaceous material to heat
the material. Although specific conditions can be tailored, the
difference in void volume between the arching control volume and
the support portion can range from 3% to 40%, and most often 5% to
25%. These ranges can also be adjusted depending on other
contributing factors to subsidence.
[0072] For example, the degree of subsidence can also be affected
by hydrocarbon content of the hydrocarbonaceous material.
Therefore, the arching control volume can be made up of high
hydrocarbon content material while the support portion is made up
of lower hydrocarbon content material. In systems for extracting
hydrocarbons from oil shale, the oil shale in the arching control
volume can have a higher kerogen content than the oil shale in the
support portion. However, using low hydrocarbon content material in
the support portion can lower the overall productivity of the
system compared to a system in which all the hydrocarbonaceous
material has a high hydrocarbon content. Only as a general
guideline and not to be considered limiting, a difference in
hydrocarbon content between the arching control volume and the
support volume can range from 5% to 60%, and in some cases 5% to
40%.
[0073] The force on the pipe can also be affected by the size of
the arching control volume, i.e., the vertical control distance to
which the arching control volume extends. The larger the vertical
control distance, at least up to the plane of equal settlement, the
more the force on the pipe will be reduced. In some embodiments,
the vertical control distance can be from about 2 to about 6 times
the diameter of the pipe, where the vertical control distance is
measured from the top of the pipe. In further embodiments, the
vertical control distance can be from about 4 to about 6 times the
diameter of the pipe, from about 5 to about 6 times the diameter of
the pipe, or greater than 6 times the diameter of the pipe. In yet
other embodiments, the vertical control distance can be selected so
that a cross section of the arching control volume has an area from
about 2 to about 6 times an area of a cross section of the pipe
when the cross sections are taken perpendicular to a longitudinal
axis of the pipe. In alternative embodiments, the arching control
volume can have a cross section that is from about 3 to about 8
times the area of the pipe cross section, from about 5 to about 8
times the area of the pipe cross section, or greater than 8 times
the area of the pipe cross section. Increasing the vertical control
distance further after passing the plane of equal settlement may
not have a further effect on the force. Additionally, if the
arching control volume has a higher void fraction that the support
portions, then increasing the vertical control distance can reduce
the overall hydrocarbon content in the system. This can lower
productivity. Thus, there can be a trade-off between reducing the
force on the pipe and productivity of the system.
[0074] The arching control volume shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shaped
as a column with straight sides and the same width as the pipe.
This is only one example of an arching control volume. In other
embodiments, the arching control volume can be designed to have a
different shape. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a triangular arching control
volume 415 and an arch-shaped arching control volume 515,
respectively. It should be noted that the actual shape of an
arching control volume may not be as well-defined as shown in the
figures since crushed hydrocarbonaceous material naturally includes
a variety of sizes and shapes of particles that can be difficult to
place precisely. Although the figures show a dashed line with a
sharp transition from the low void fraction support portion to the
high void fraction arching control volume, in practice the
transition may be less clear. Particles from the support portion
and the arching control volume can intersperse with each other,
making a more gradual transition from low void fraction to high
void fraction. However, even if the transition is not precise, the
volume defined as the arching control volume can have an overall
higher void fraction than the support portion.
[0075] Regardless, appropriate shapes, sizes, void fractions,
hydrocarbon contents, and other properties of the arching control
volume and the support portion can be selected to achieve a desired
reduction in force on the pipes. The amount of force that will be
experienced by the pipes during subsidence can be predicted through
theoretical calculations or by experimental data. Although several
theories exist for calculating pressures caused by soil arching
effects, these theories can often give differing results. Also,
these theories have been developed for use in the context of soil
arching, and may not be entirely applicable to hydrocarbon
extraction systems. Theories developed for soil arching problems do
not account for the greater degree of subsidence experienced by
hydrocarbonaceous materials from which hydrocarbons are extracted.
Thus, in some cases a more accurate prediction of pressures on the
pipes in a hydrocarbon extraction system can be determined
experimentally by those skilled in the art based on the guidelines
presented herein. Any of the factors mentioned above can affect the
amount of force on the pipes. Additionally, different
hydrocarbonaceous material feedstocks can have different
properties. For example, different hydrocarbonaceous materials can
have different amounts of internal friction and cohesion between
particles. Generally, higher friction between particles results in
greater arching effects. Therefore, experimental data can be
collected for a particular feedstock to help predict forces on the
pipes.
[0076] The present technology can be used to reduce forces on pipes
buried in a subsiding body of hydrocarbonaceous material. Reducing
the forces on the pipes can reduce the likelihood of pipe breakage.
This can allow for the use of inexpensive pipes with thinner walls.
The resulting cost savings can be substantial when constructing an
impoundment with many pipes or an array of multiple impoundments.
This advantage can be balanced with reductions in hydrocarbon
production that can result from changing the void fraction or
hydrocarbon content of the material in the arching control volume
and support portion, as explained above. In some cases, the system
can be designed so that the total downward force on the pipes is
reduced as the hydrocarbonaceous materials subside. In other cases,
the above factors can be balanced so that the force on the pipes
stays roughly the same during subsidence. In still further cases,
the force on the pipe can increase somewhat as the
hydrocarbonaceous materials subside. However, in any of the above
cases, the force on the pipes during subsidence can be reduced
compared to the force that would have been exerted on the pipes if
no arching control volume had been used.
[0077] The present technology is applicable to any size of pipes.
In the systems described herein, the pipes can often have a
diameter from about 1 ft. to about 5 ft. In more specific
embodiments, the pipes can have a diameter from about 2 ft. to
about 4 ft., or about 3 ft. The pipes can also have a wall
thickness of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch. Pipes can be
buried in the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material, and
spaced apart by from about 5 ft. to about 30 ft. In more specific
embodiments, the pipes can be spaced apart by from about 10 ft. to
about 20 ft.
[0078] Materials for the pipes can vary. In some examples, the
pipes can be clay pipes, refractory cement pipes, refractory ECC
pipes, poured in place pipes, cast iron pipes, carbon steel pipes,
stainless steel pipes, corrugated steel pipes, polymer pipes, or
other types of pipe. Because the force on the pipes due to
subsidence of the hydrocarbonaceous materials is reduced by the
arching control volume, the pipes can be made from comparatively
weaker materials without risking breakage of the pipes.
[0079] Because the body of hydrocarbonaceous material can subside
by a large amount, it can be useful to configure the pipes so that
the pipes can move with the subsiding hydrocarbonaceous material.
Therefore, in some embodiments the pipes can include features that
allow the pipes to move with the subsiding material. In one
example, the pipes can include flexible pipe segments. In one
embodiment, the flexible segments can be flexible corrugated pipe.
In another embodiment, the pipes can be entirely made from flexible
corrugated pipe. In another example, the pipes can include a pipe
manifold that is able to collapse vertically as the
hydrocarbonaceous material subsides.
[0080] In some embodiments, the pipes can include lateral heat
transfer conduits connected to compactible risers. FIGS. 6 and 7
show examples of coupling configurations for a lateral heat
transfer conduit and a riser. As shown in FIG. 6, a lateral heat
transfer conduit 610 can be coupled to an end of a riser 620. For
example, the lateral heat transfer conduit and/or the riser can
include a transition portion 630 that transitions between a lateral
orientation of the lateral heat transfer conduit and a vertical
orientation of the riser. In one aspect, the transition portion can
comprise an "elbow" having a 90 degree angle. The transition
portion allows heat transfer fluid to flow between the lateral heat
transfer conduit and the riser while having sufficient strength to
maintain structural integrity of the coupling between the lateral
heat transfer conduit and the riser when the lateral heat transfer
conduit lowers. As shown in FIG. 7, a lateral heat transfer conduit
710 can be coupled to a mid portion of a riser 720. In one aspect,
the transition portion 730 can form at least a part of a "T"
connection providing a 90 degree angle between the lateral heat
transfer conduit and the riser. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the
transition portion is devoid of corrugations, which can be
beneficial for structural integrity of the coupling between the
lateral heat transfer conduit and the riser. The transition
portions can thus provide for a structurally sound transition from
the lateral heat transfer conduit to the vertically collapsible
features of the riser. It should be noted, however, that the
lateral heat transfer conduit can also couple directly to the
vertically collapsible features of the riser without a transition
portion.
[0081] FIGS. 8-11 show piping systems 800, 900, 1000, and 1100
which include lateral pipes 810, 910, 1010, and 1110 connected to
vertical risers 820, 920, 1020, and 1120. In these embodiments, the
entire vertical risers are corrugated and the lateral risers
connect directly to the corrugated risers. The risers can act as
manifolds with multiple lateral pipes branching from the manifolds.
A variety of other configurations of pipes can also be used in the
systems according to the present technology.
[0082] In some embodiments, the system for extracting hydrocarbons
from crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can include a pipe with an
arching control volume extending upward from the pipe. The system
can also include a second pipe with a second arching control volume
extending upward. The second pipe can be positioned directly above
the first pipe, and the two pipes can be separated by a distance
that is greater than the vertical control distance. Both pipes can
be surrounded on top, bottom, and sides by crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. As shown in the figures, the system can
include a plurality of pipes arrange in vertical columns and/or
horizontal rows within the impoundment. The arching control volumes
can all have identical vertical control distances, or the vertical
control distances can differ. In one embodiment, the vertical
control distances can increase with increasing height in the
impoundment. In another embodiment, the vertical control distances
can decrease with increasing height in the impoundment.
[0083] The present technology also extends to methods for
constructing a system for extracting hydrocarbons from crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. An exemplary method can include
depositing a layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material in an
enclosure, orienting a pipe on the layer of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, and then depositing additional crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material within the enclosure. This can form a
structured body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material including an
arching control volume that extends above the pipe. Support
portions can include the hydrocarbonaceous material immediately
adjacent the sides of the arching control volume. The
hydrocarbonaceous material in the arching control volume can have a
higher void fraction that the hydrocarbonaceous material in the
support portion.
[0084] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method 1200 of constructing a
system for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material in accordance with an embodiment of the present
technology. The method comprises: depositing a layer of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material in an enclosure 1210; orienting a pipe
on the layer of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material 1220; and
depositing additional crushed hydrocarbonaceous material within the
enclosure to form a structured body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material including an arching control volume of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material extending above the pipe with a support
portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material oriented immediately
adjacent sides of the arching control volume, wherein the arching
control volume has a higher void fraction than the support portion
1230.
[0085] The body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be formed
inside an impoundment as described above. The body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, insulating layer, barrier layer, and
outer wall supports can be formed with any of the compositions and
dimensions as discussed above. The impoundment can be formed using
any suitable approach. However, in one aspect, the impoundment is
formed from the floor up. The formation of the wall or walls and
filling of the enclosure with crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
can be accomplished simultaneously in a vertical deposition process
where materials are deposited in a predetermined pattern. For
example, multiple chutes or other particulate delivery mechanisms
can be oriented along corresponding locations above the deposited
material. By selectively controlling the volume of particulate
delivered and the location along the aerial view of the system
where each respective particulate material is delivered, the layers
and structure can be formed simultaneously from the floor to the
ceiling. The sidewall portions of the impoundment can be formed as
a continuous upward extension at the outer perimeter of the floor
and each layer present, including the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, the insulating layer, the impermeable
layer, and optionally outer walls formed of compacted earthen
material, are constructed as a continuous extension of the floor
counterparts. During the building up of the sidewalls, the body of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be simultaneously placed on
the floor and within the sidewall perimeter such that, what will
become the enclosed space, is being filled simultaneously with the
rising of the constructed sidewall. In this manner, internal
retaining walls or other lateral restraining considerations can be
avoided. This approach can also be monitored during vertical
build-up in order to verify that intermixing at interfaces of
layers is within acceptable predetermined tolerances (e.g. maintain
functionality of the respective layer). For example, excessive
intermingling of the barrier layer materials with the insulating
material in the insulating layer may compromise the sealing
function of the barrier layer. This can be avoided by careful
deposition of each adjacent layer as it is built up and/or by
increasing deposited layer thickness. Hydrated materials in the
barrier layer can be deposited dry and then hydrated after the
impoundment is complete. Alternately, a first horizontal layer of
dry material can be deposited, followed by hydrating the layer, and
then another layer of dry material can be deposited on top of the
first layer, and then hydrated, and so on.
[0086] The pipes can be placed in the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material as the body is formed by deposition in
layers from the bottom up. After laying a pipe, additional crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can be deposited up to the level of the
top of the pipe. Then, additional layers of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material can be added while forming an arching
control volume of high void fraction hydrocarbonaceous material
directly over the pipe. In each layer, an amount of high void
fraction material can be deposited at the location of the arching
control volume while lower void fraction material is deposited
throughout the rest of the layer. In this way, the arching control
volume is built up layer by layer from high void fraction material.
Once the vertical control distance is reached, uniform layers of
lower void fraction material can be deposited. This process can be
repeated with additional pipes and additional arching control
volumes until the entire impoundment is formed.
[0087] In one embodiment, the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material
can be deposited without any packing or compacting. Both the high
void fraction and low void fraction material can be allowed to fall
into place naturally, and the void fraction can be controlled by
particle size distribution in the materials. In an alternative
embodiment, the low void fraction material can be compacted as the
layers are deposited.
[0088] In a specific embodiment, the arching control volume and
supporting portion can be formed by depositing hydrocarbonaceous
material having a monomodal size distribution in the arching
control volume, and depositing hydrocarbonaceous material having a
multimodal size distribution in the support portion.
[0089] The present technology also extends to methods of reducing
stress on a buried pipe during extraction of hydrocarbons from a
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. One exemplary method can
include heating a body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The
body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can surround a pipe and
comprise an arching control volume of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material extending upward from the pipe to a vertical control
distance. The body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can
further include a support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material which is oriented immediately adjacent sides of the
arching control volume. The arching control volume can have a
higher void fraction than the support portion. The method can
further include producing hydrocarbon products from the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material such that the crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material decreases in volume causing subsidence of the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material. When this subsidence occurs, frictional
forces between the arching control volume and the support portion
can mitigate stress on the pipe due to subsidence. The hydrocarbon
products produced from the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material can be extracted.
[0090] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method 1300 of reducing stress
on a buried pipe during extraction of hydrocarbons from a crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material in accordance with an embodiment of the
present technology. The method includes: heating a body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material surrounds a pipe and the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material comprises an arching control volume of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material extending upward from the pipe
to a vertical control distance, and the body of crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material further includes a support portion of
crushed hydrocarbonaceous material which is oriented immediately
adjacent sides of the arching control volume, wherein the arching
control volume has a higher void fraction than the support portion
1310; producing hydrocarbon products from the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material such that the crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material decreases in volume causing subsidence of the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein frictional forces between the
arching control volume and the support portion mitigate stress on
the pipe due to subsidence 1320; and extracting the produced
hydrocarbon products from the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous
material 1330.
[0091] In one embodiment, the production of hydrocarbon products
can continue until the total subsidence of the crushed
hydrocarbonaceous material is from about 10% to about 40%. In
another embodiment, the production can continue until the upper
surface of the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material subsides
by from about 1 m to about 15 m. The production can also continue
until the pipe drops by from about 1 m to about 15 m due to the
subsidence. The production of hydrocarbons can continue for a time
from about 2 days to about 2 years, or for any of the time periods
described above.
[0092] In some cases, the top-down stress on the pipe after
subsidence can be less than the top-down stress on the pipe before
subsidence. However, in other cases, the top-down stress can stay
roughly the same or can increase when the subsidence occurs.
[0093] Aspects of the present technology can also be applied to
systems other than hydrocarbon removal. Any system involving pipes
or other equipment oriented with a subsiding body of particulate
material can potentially benefit from the use of arching control
volumes as described herein. Arching control volumes can be
especially useful in systems where a substance is extracted from
the particulate material, causing the particulate material to
subside significantly more than usual. In some examples, arching
control volumes can be used in systems such as copper or gold heat
bleaching systems.
[0094] The described features, structures, or characteristics may
be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. In the
preceding description numerous specific details were provided, such
as examples of various configurations to provide a thorough
understanding of examples of the described technology. One skilled
in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the technology
may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or
with other methods, components, devices, etc. In other instances,
well-known structures or operations are not shown or described in
detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the technology.
[0095] The foregoing detailed description describes the invention
with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it will
be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention as set
forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and
accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative,
rather than as restrictive, and all such modifications or changes,
if any, are intended to fall within the scope of the present
invention as described and set forth herein.
* * * * *